SOLENT PASTORAL AREA (SPA) - An Update

As you may recall from the last Update before Christmas, the bishop has agreed that we should aim to establish the new parish envisaged in the Ten-year diocesan plan

by September 2026 - which is now “next year”! The Solent Pastoral Area Advisory Group (SPAAG) has started to make plans for this change and, to help in this work, 3 subgroups have been formed.

The St Peter Group will focus on the ongoing formation of the laity across the Pastoral Area. It will explore what parishioners feel they need and the topics, methods and resources that would best meet those needs.

The St Paul Group will focus on evangelisation in the wider community of our towns and will grow out of other mission efforts such as the Zion mission happening in Fareham in June.

Finally, the St Matthew Group will address Pastoral Area finances, property and resources, working alongside parish Finance Chairs and the Diocesan Canon Lawyer (changes such as those proposed entail a lot of processes that are enshrined in Canon law).

More info. about the groups will be shared as and when it becomes available and, meanwhile, these SPA Updates

are now being shared across all our existing parishes.